Wreath and the like



H. P. HANSON,

' WREATH AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 24, 1923 2 ShestB-Sheet l l? we'rz'foii wzasaw/ H. P. HANSON WREATH AND THE LIKE Dec. '2, 1924. 13,53 7 ,28?

Filed Sept. 24 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented cc. 2, 1924.

HANS PETER HANSON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WBEATI-I. AND THE LIKE.

Appflication filed. September 24, 1923. Serial No. 664,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANs P. HANsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Heaths and the like, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with certain improvements in wreaths. The invention has reference particularly to improvements in floral wreaths such as are used for funeral purposes and for the decoration of graves.

These wreaths are generally made in a number of different sizes or diameters, generally varying by two inch spaces in the diameter. For example, itis customary to make the wreaths of twelve, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty, twenty-two, twentyfour inches, etc, in diameter. These wreaths are generally made with a wire frame which is then covered with a suitable covering and filled with the appropriate decorative material such as moss, ferns, leaves, flowers, etc. Naturally, the use of a large number of different sizes of wreaths makes it necessary to provide the wire frames of similar and appropriate sizes. In the past it has been customary to make these wire frames from rigid or permanent hoops together with the appropriate means for spacing the various hoops with respect to each other.

According to my present invention I dispense with the necessity of using hoops of permanent size and an accordingly large number of sizes, and make provision for increasing or diminisliing the diameters of the hoops, so that the wires of certain. standard sizes can be used for making hoops of a number of different sizes.

F or the foregoing purpose, I preferably provide a junction member into which the end portions of the wires may be adjustab-ly located and within which junction member these end portions can be overlapped or moved relatively with respect to each other so as to establish the desired diameter of wreath, and then secured in the proper position of adjustment so as to maintain this diameter.

The junction member itself is preferably curved on a degree of curvature substantially approximating the average curvature for the wreaths with which it is intended to be used. The hoop wires are cut to such lengths as will make it possible for them to be used 1n connection with this junction member in several different positions of adjustment, so that the same junction member and the same set of wires can be used for making up a number of different sizes of wreaths. The total number of stock sizes which it is necessary to have on hand will be accordingly reduced and the cost and convenience of carrymg on business will also be correspondingly reduced.

Ordinarily, it will be found convenient to use unction members and hoop wires of the proper :size to be usable for three sizes of wreaths, say, twelve, fourteen or sixteen inches in diameter, or eighteen, twenty or twenty-two inches in diameter. In the former case the junction member will usually have a curvature substantially approximating that of a fourteen inch wreath, and in the latter case a curvature substantially approximating that of a twenty inch wreath.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a face view of a wreath embodying the feature of the present inventlon;

Fig. 2 shows a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows a face view of the wire frame together with the junction members;

Fig. at shows a section. taken on the line 4--lof Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

F ig. 5 shows a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 shows a cross section. taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; 9

Fig. 7 shows a. longitudinal. section through the adjustment passage of the junctionmember, being a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. .6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary section on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;.and

Fig. 9 shows a face view of a modified form of frame member.

The wreath in its entirety is designated by the numeral 9. It comprises the four hoop wires 10, 11, 12 and 13 which are re tained in the proper positions with respect to each other to form an annular frame. Within this frame is generally located a partition of paper or, the like 14L which can be stuffed with moss or other suitable material 15 as shown in Fig. 2, in orderto provide the proper foundationfor.the surface material 16, and in order to give the wreath the desired body and bulky appearance.

Ordinarily, the hoops 10, 11, 12 and 13 will be sustained at'a proper spacing by means of wire spacers 17 as particularly shownin Fig. 3. Each of these wire spacers is of generally U-shaped form and has its lower corners crimped as shown at 18 and 19 to firmly engage the hoop wires 12 and 13, and has its upper ends 20 and 21 bent over the upper hoop wires 10 and 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 4:.

The junction member is designatedin its entirety by the numeral 22. 7 It preferably comprises a curved sheet metal member-of generally U-shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 5, and of a curvature approximat ing the average curvature of. the wreaths with which it is intended to be used.

The upper edges of this junction'member to the lower portion of the junction member 24. This member 25 may comprise a piece of sheet metal having its edge portions 26 and 27 folded over as shown in Fig. 5, so as to establish other curved passages for the other hoop wires. These passages 26 and 27 should likewise preferably be of sufiicient size to allow the wires to overlap within. them.

The a-r angement so far explained makes it possible to adjust the diameters of the wire hoops with ease and through a consiiilerable range of sizes. Ihave provided means for securing the wire hoops in the proper position. of adjustment corresponding to the particular size of wreath which is desired. In the form of-junction-member illustrated in the drawings, this means takes the form now to be explained:

The passage 24 is of somewhat enlarged section, so that the end portions 28 and 29 of the wire hoop whic-hnit receives may be crimped or.corrugated .as shown in Fig. 7. Along one'portion of this member 2a, I form a series otslotted openings or recesses 30 which are preferably spaced to receive the corrugations as the ends of the wire are slid back and forth, which corrugations willtend to spring into these openings and retain the wire with a considerable degree of firmness. The amount of this retention is, however, preferably not sufiicient to prevent the desired relatively easy adjustment of the size of the wreath.

I then also provide a hook 31 which can be passed through an opening 32 in the side of the member 24 so as to cause its hooked end 33 to embrace the end portions of the hoop wire at a point where they cross, as illustrated in Fig. 8. A wing nut 34 ma then be threaded onto the projecting end of the hook so as to tighten up the same and prevent disengagement of the hook ends therefrom.

Ordinarily, it will be suflicient to provide means for locking the end portions of a single one of the hoop wires, since the other hoop wires are connected thereto by the various spacers 17, and since all of the hoop wires are brought into the same junction member.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 9, the frame includes one or more hoop shaped members 35, preferably in the form of wire sections bent into substantially circular form and having their end portions 36 and 37 overlapped. These end portions are provided with the terminal loops 3S and 39 respectively, which are wrapped around the body of the wire itself. Consequently, the size of the hoop can be adjusted by simply sliding the end portions into the proper position with respect to each other.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not limit myself to the same except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

' 1. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially circular wreath comprising in combination four substantially circular wire hoops located respectively at the upper and lower inner and outer circular edges of the wreath, a plurality of substantially U-shaped spacers located around the wire hoops and serving to retain said wire hoop members in spaced relationship, a. junction member for the end portions of the wires of the wire hoop members, said junction member being curved substantially corresponding to the curvature of the wreath, and provided with longitudinally extending passages in the upper and lower inner and outer edges of the junction member for the accommodation of the end portions of the hoop wires, corrugations in the end portions of one hoop wire, the corresponding passage of the j unction member being of sufficient size to accommodate said corrugations, there being recesses or openings in one side of said passage properly spaced to accommodate the successive corrugations, means for locking both of said end portions in position within said passage and against longitudinal displacement, and a suitable ornamental filler for the wreath, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially circular wreath comprising in combination four substantially circular wire hoops located respectively at the upper and lower inner and outer circular edges of the wreath, a plurality of substantially U-shaped spacers located around the wire hoops and serving to retain said wire hoops me1nbers in spaced relationship, a junction member tor the end portions of the wires of the wire hoop members, said junction. member being curved substantially corresponding to the curvature of the wreath, and provided with longitudinally extending passa in the upper and lower inner and outer edges of the junction member for the accommodation of the end portions of the hoop wires, means for locking both of said end portions in position within said passage and against longitudinal displacement, and a suitable ornamental filler for the wreath, substantially as described.

3. As a new articleof mami'fact-ure, a substantially circular wreath comprising in combination tour substantially circular wire hoops located respectively at the upper and lower inner and outer circular edges of the wreath, a plurality of substantially U-shaped spacers located around the wire hoops and serving to retain said wire hoop members in spaced relationship, a junction member for the end portions of the wires of the wire hoop members, said junction member being curved substantially corresponding to the curvature of the wreath, and provided with longitudinally extending passages in the upper and lower inner and outer edges of the junction member for the accommodation of the end portions of the hoop wires, corrugations in the end portions of one hoop wire, the corresponding passage of the junction member being of suiiicient size to accommodate said corrugations, there being recesses or openings in one side of said passage properly spaced to accommodate the successive corrugations, and a siiiitable ornamental filler for the wreath, substantially as described.

4:. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially circular wreath comprising in combination four substantially circular wire hoops located respectively at the upper and lower inner and outer circular edges of the wreath, means for properly spacing the wire hoops with respect to each other, a junction member for the end portions of the wires of the hoop members, said junction member being curved substantially corresponding to the curvature of the wreath, and provided with longitudinally extending passages in the upper and lower inner and outer edges of the junction member for the accommodation of the end portions of the hoop wires, and means for securing the end portions of one hoop wire in the desired position with respect to each other in said junction member, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, asubstantially circular wreath comprising in combination substantially circular wire hoops, means for retaining said hoops in the proper position with respect to each other, a junction member for the end portions of the wires of the hoop members, said junction member being curved substantially corresponding to the curvature of the wreath, the junction. member being adapted to receive the end portions of the wires of the hoop members and permit relative movement thereof, and means in conjunction with the junction member for securing the end portions of the wire of one hoop member against longitudinal displacement with respect to each other, substantially as de scribed.

HANS PETER HANSON. 

